2022 – Page 17 – Union Schools

Bulletin, Cultural

Speech Competition

“𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬. 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵.” – 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀

Having the confidence to speak well is such an important life skill. While for many, the idea of public speaking may invoke a sense of trepidation, that certainly wasn’t evident among the many learners who took to the stage these past two weeks to deliver their prepared speeches to the audiences at Union High School’s 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦.

Overall the standard of the learners’ speeches were very high, and, regardless of the age group, their confidence was astonishing.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨:

Grade 8: Endinako Jadezweni

Grade 9: Erin Gedult

Grade 10: Sobuhle Njambali

Grade 11: Caitrin Spence

Grade 12: Kendall Krige

𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘!

The winners in the Senior competition: Sobuhle Njambali (Grade 10), Caitrin Spence (Grade 11) and Kendall Krige (Grade 12).

The Grade 8 Top 3: Endinako Jadezweni (1st), Anabel Norval (2nd) and Rebecca Copeman (third). The Grade 9 Top 3: Erin Gedult (1st), Tara Ferreira (2nd) and Jayden Eimon (3rd).

Bulletin

Digital Citizenship Parent’s Evening

Are you 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 in a world you didn’t grow up in? Perhaps your son plays Fortnite or watches YouTube clips? Perhaps your daughter adores TikTok or Instagram?

𝗜𝗳 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘂𝘁, and you are battling to manage your child’s screen time, you have to attend this event!

Union will be hosting a parent’s evening on Thursday evening, 5 May from 17:30 in the Union High School Hall. Registration for this event costs R50 and can be done at the following link https://www.quicket.co.za/events/169169-cyber-smarts-parents-evening/#/ or with Ms Moos at Union High School reception.

Topics that will be covered with parents during the parents’ evening include:
• A parent’s role: Monitoring & Mentoring
• Harmful content
• Pornography & addiction
• Online predators
• Filtering software
• Safe Gaming
• Social Media
• Sexting & Cyberbullying
• Setting boundaries & digital citizenship
• Being a digital role model
𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴!

Click here for more information on Screen Smarts and the grade specific workshops planned for Union’s Digital Citizenship Week

Bulletin

Digital Citizenship Week

Sport Results

Cricket: U/13A vs Gill Primary

On Wednesday afternoon, 2 March, Union’s 𝘂/𝟭𝟯𝗔 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 faced their Gill Primary School counterparts in a 20-over encounter on Union’s Puttick Field.

Union lost the toss and bowled first.

Consistent pressure by Union’s bowlers led to a few early wickets and resulted in Gill only managing to score 45 runs for seven wickets in their allotted twenty overs. Union’s best bowler was 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗶 who took 5 wickets for 6 runs in his 4 overs.

Union then went in to bat. Opening batsmen 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗶 and 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲 got the team off to a good start with a partnership of 25 runs. Union managed to pass Gill’s score in the 9th over.

Union’s best batsman was 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝗮𝗶 with 29 runs not out.

Union won the game by 9 wickets.

𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴!

Sport Results

Cricket: U/13A vs Cradock

On Tuesday afternoon, 1 March, Union’s u/13A cricket team took the field against a visiting Cradock side in a 𝗧𝟮𝟬 encounter.

Union won the toss and elected to bat first.

After three quick wickets, Union appeared to be in trouble, but a strong partnership from 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘅𝘁𝗼𝗻 and 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘆 quickly rectified the innings.

Union managed to put a total of 72 runs on the scoreboard in their allotted 20 overs.

Union’s best batsmen on the day, were 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻-𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 (20) and 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘅𝘁𝗼𝗻 (15).

When Cradock went in to bat, Union managed to restrict them to 58 runs. The best Union bowler on the day was 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘄 who claimed 2 wickets.

Union won the game by 14 runs. 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝘂/𝟭𝟯𝘀!

Bulletin

Keller Education Parent Webinar

In partnership with Keller Education, the Union Schools invite all our parents to join us for a 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥 being held this Thursday afternoon, 3 March, themed, “𝘒𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘜𝘴”.

This webinar is ideal for all parents, whether your children are in pre-school, prep, primary or high school.

All behaviour is communication. Even bizarre, disruptive and disrespectful actions are purposeful and attempt to solve a problem. Through this webinar, Keller Education hopes to equip parents to learn to step back, to think outside of the “behaviour box,” understand where behaviour dwells in the human brain, and how all human behaviours are motivated by four functions.

Unable to join the webinar live? All registrants will receive access to the recording, and a summary pack after the event.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://keller.education/…/webinar-kids-who-challenge-us/

Athletics, Sport Results

Sarah Baartman Athletics Result

Six Union learners, representing the Graaff-Reinet High Schools’ CMC Athletics Team, travelled to Gqeberha on Thursday, 17 February, to compete in the annual Sarah Baartman Athletics Meet for high schools at the Westbourne Oval.

There was an excellent team spirit among the participating athletes and the long day ended with some harmonious singing on the bus on the way back to Graaff-Reinet.

𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 to Jayden Odendaal who came fourth in the Shot Put event for Boys u/17.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to Kyle Liebenberg who claimed the 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗘 medal in the Shot Put event for Boys u/15, Dylan Petitt who won 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗘 in the Open Men’s Discus event and Sisipho Arnols who claimed 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗘 in the Open Men’s Long Jump event and 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗥 in the Open Men’s 100m final.

Sisipho has subsequently been invited to participate in the Eastern Cape Athletics Championships to be held in Gqerberha at the beginning of March. 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘰!

Seen here are medal winners Kyle Liebenberg, Dylan Petitt and Sisipho Arnols.

Sport Results

Swimmers Go The Extra Mile

Eleven Union High School swimmers participated in the 98th annual 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘 at the Sundays River Cannonville Slipway this past Sunday morning, 27 February, joining hundreds of other swimmers who competed in this year’s edition of Africa’s oldest open-water swimming event.

The results are as follows:

• 𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗸𝗲 came 7th in the Boys 13 & Under age group with his time of 22:49 minutes (53rd place overall).

• The 14 to 29 Years age group saw 𝗝𝗝 𝗟𝗶𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 coming in 45th, 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 48th and 𝗗𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘁 51st.

• 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗶 𝗩𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 and 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻, who both competed in their very first River Mile in the Girls 13 & Under age group, swam very well, with Mecoli coming in 13th with a time of 24:22 minutes and Rebecca coming in 16th with her time of 26:54 minutes.

• The 14 to 29 Years age group saw 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 and 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗲 crossing the finish line together, in what was their very last River Mile for Union. They claimed the 27th and 28th spot, respectively, in the 25th minute. 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗳𝘀𝗲𝗻 and 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗺𝗿𝗶𝗲 finished shortly after, coming in 34th, 35th and 36th, respectively.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 ‘𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨’ 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮.

Of course, a River Mile outing wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Nanaga Farm Stall, where the learners and accompanying members of staff enjoyed the tasty home-made pies and roosterkoek on offer, before hitting the long road home.

Sport Results

Junior Swimmer Selected To Respresent Karoo

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 to the following Union High School junior swimmers who have been selected to represent the Karoo team at the 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧-𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙖 taking place at Hoër Volkskool on Wednesday, 2 March, where they will compete against schools from the Amatola and Albany districts:

𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻, 𝗔𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗮𝗿𝘀𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗱, 𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗮 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗹, 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲, 𝗔𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗽, 𝗭𝗼ë 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗢𝘄𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘅𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯𝘀.

Bulletin, Student Life

Meet Your Mentors

In 2021, Union High School launched a cross-age peer mentoring programme at the school to promote the learners’ physical, social and emotional well-being.

The programme is constructed between the older and younger learners, with mentors being assigned to specific class groups so that the younger learners can benefit from the experience and knowledge of the older ones.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲.

The support of parents and teachers is undoubtedly vital for the success of our learners. However, the impact that guidance and advice from people who are closer in age can have is often overlooked – in fact, peer mentoring has been shown to lead to improved attitude to school, attendance and behaviour. It can also help learners to build up a peer network within their school, causing more holistic benefits such as a sense of community and belonging.

“𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨,” said Grade 12 mentor, Kathryn Odendaal.